Reclaiming Streets, Liberating Bodies

During Olinda’s street carnival in the state of Pernambuco located in the northeastern region of Brazil, the streets overflow with energetic crowds that move to the rhythm of trombones and clarinets playing songs familiar to most of the crowd members. The party is formed primarily of people gathered in groups known as blocos or troças that parade through the streets listening to the sound of frevo brass bands. Over four days, these groups attract thousands of revelers who gather on the slopes of Cidade Alta to celebrate a tradition of uninterrupted fun. Considering this diverse and enthusiastic environment, this article analyzes four feminist blocos: Sambadeiras, Bloco da Diversidade, Vacas Profanas, and Quem Cola Entra. They intend to create a safe space so that women (cisgender or transgender) and other people who form part of the LGBTQIAPN+ community can resist patriarchy, show their bodies, and express their sexual desires without fearing retaliation or judgment, thus reclaiming public spaces for themselves. Through participant observation and engagement with these blocos, this article analyzes how revelers reclaim sexuality and nudity by exploring them in political ways. With the creation of spaces that contest the colonial structure that rules society’s bodies, genders, and sexualities, carnival proves to be a period for new experiences when it comes to self-exploration, self-knowledge, and freedom. Using body-territory theory, this article contemplates the meaning of carnival joy as political activism, as a protest for bodily autonomy and desire, and as a means of reclaiming sexual freedom.